There are a variety of ways to let your musical talents shine during Mile of Music. You could play in a band. You could take part in one of the many music education events.

Or you could sing in the shower.

It's true. Thanks to Mile of Music sponsor Tundraland, the lobby of the Radisson Paper Valley Hotel is home to a station where anybody can get in front of a microphone, step inside of a shower and sing for charity.

Tundraland's Robert McGuire was manning the station on Thursday evening and said the goal is to get 250 people to participate. Each singer gets recorded and the performance gets posted to the Kaukauna-based company's Facebook page. Tundraland will then donate $1,000 to the charity chosen by whoever gets the most likes.

If they hit their goal of getting 250 people to take part, McGuire said they'll pony up the cash to send one person to music school for a year.

So, you probably sing in the shower. At Mile of Music you can do it for a good cause.

Looking to pick up an album or two from the artists at Mile of Music? Look no further than right out in front of the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center on the corner of College Avenue and Division Street.

The Exclusive Company has a mini-store set up on the sidewalk with hundreds of CDs and three boxes of vinyl from Mile 2 artists. Though as of Thursday afternoon walk-up sales were slow, assistant manager Alysa Koepke said based on last year's experience she expected things to pick up as fans get introduced to new acts throughout the weekend.

Koepke said sales of Mile of Music-related records were big movers in the run up to the festival, more so than in 2013.

"Lots and lots and lots of Sturgill Simpson," she said of what artists were getting the most attention from customers. "Nikki Lane, the Hillary Reynolds Band … quite a bit of Caroline Smith."

The Milk Carton Kids also were big sellers until their cancelation. (Their albums are still out for sale, though, along with a number of acts from 2013.)

The Exclusive Company ramped up their inventory this year before the festival, reaching out to nearly all of the artists in order to get their music on store shelves. Koepke said they have far more albums this year from Mile of Music artists than a year ago.

The makeshift store will be out in front of the PAC throughout the weekend, starting at about 1 p.m. each day.

-Shane Nyman

Stone Arch delivers second round

Music fans aren't the only ones with exploring to do during this weekend's festivities. Craft beer fans also have something new to check out.

Once again, Appleton's Stone Arch Brew House has produced a commemorative beer for the event, the Mile of Music Pale Ale.

Though the name has been tweaked (another Wisconsin brewery popped up and claimed Wisconsin Pale Ale in the past year), the recipe remains mostly the same from last year's inaugural batch.

"By style it's considered an English bitter. We don't like to call it bitter because that's a word in the industry that means 'doesn't sell,'" said Stone Arch brewmaster Steve Lonsway. "We like to use the term session pale ale. It's a beautiful balance between hops and malt. You get some fruity notes from the yeast as well. The key is not to make it bitter; it's not an IPA it's not a hoppy pale ale, it's just a very nice sessionable pale ale."

The brew is 4.7 percent ABV and is made with Wisconsin-grown hops and some (but not entirely) Wisconsin-grown malt.

With Mile of Music aiming to nearly double in size this year, Stone Arch upped their production from 630 gallons in 2013 to 1,900 this year.

Those looking to splash the pale ale on their palates can head to one of about 20 downtown bars that either have it on tap or in bottles. If a take-home six-pack is desired, those are available only at Stone Cellar Brewpub. (They've also produced a Mile of Music root beer, which is only available at the brewpub.)

If interested in saving the bottle as a keepsake, Lonsway recommends giving it a thorough rinse and baking it (keep the cap off, of course) at 300 degrees for five minutes or so to better adhere the ink to the glass.

Because Stone Arch beer is unpasteurized, the Mile of Music Pale Ale is better off consumed sooner rather than later. Much like some of the festival's outdoor venues, the beer is a little easier to enjoy in August than in January.

Stone Cellar, a major sponsor of Mile of Music, also offers 17 performances over the course of the weekend.

— Shane Nyman

Mile 2 artists to record live at Rock Garden

Butch Vig and his band Emperors of Wyoming will stop by Rock Garden Studio for a 1 p.m. session Friday.
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Getty Images
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Mile of Music organizers take pride in delivering to music fans one-of-a-kind experiences, pitting musicians in small diners on College Avenue or full bands performing on public transportation. Another of the special opportunities offered up at Mile 2 are live recording sessions held at Appleton's Rock Garden Studio.

The studio, located at 101 W. Edison Ave., picked up the WAMI Award earlier this year for Recording Studio of the Year and also boasts Producer of the Year Marc Golde at the helm. Over the course of the weekend, five Mile of Music acts will make a visit to the space for recording sessions that are free and open to the public.

Today will feature the Record Company at 1 p.m. and Daniel Ellsworth and the Great Lakes at 4 p.m. Friday has Emperors of Wyoming (featuring famed producer and Garbage drummer Butch Vig) at 1 p.m. and Water Liars at 4 p.m. Saturday will see a 4 p.m. visit from Turbo Fruits.

Last year's Rock Garden sessions included Field Report, Swear and Shake Communist Daughter.

Rock Garden Studio owner Marc Golde talks with Mike Thiel about offering fans more of a behind-the-scenes experience at the live recording sessions and video shoots during the Mile of Music. (Aug. 7, 2014)
Jim Rosandick; Mike Thiel

— Shane Nyman

Skyline Comedy Cafe transforms for Mile of Music

Skyline Comedy Cafe owner Cliff Diedrick talks with Mike Thiel on changes to the venue and how a larger stage was constructed for 20 acts during the Mile of Music festival. (Aug. 7, 2014)
Jim Rosandick; Mike Thiel